Tuesday, June 10, 2014

We are so very excited here at the FiveSibes homestead! Harley has been wooing up a storm with some big news...my second FiveSibes illustrated children's book Getting Healthy With Harley: Learning About Health & Fitness has been published! And our alpha queen is so excited about starring in her own book! Think a canine version of Julian Michaels meets Jennifer Beals' character in the 1983 movie, Flashdance!

And Harley wants to know if you'd like to know what else is cool about this book? I'll be donating a portion of proceeds, after the cost of production, to help Siberian Huskies in need through the Save Our Siberians Siberspace Rescue Fund! Do I hear a "Woo-Woo?!"

With all the fun surrounding the release of this book, I thought our fans and followers would love to get to know a little about the
awesome talent behind the pencil of our very talented illustrator,
Michelle Littler. So grab a cup of coffee, call your children and
furkids all around you, kick up your feet, and come meet our FiveSibes™
Tales illustrator, Michelle, in this fun interview! While this post is longer than usual, it's a very special one and you'll want to check it out and be sure to enter our Book Giveaway! We know you'll enjoy
getting to know Michelle as much as we love her!

And as a double-treat, Michelle and I are coordinating our blog posts, so be sure to check
out her blog at www.MichelleLittler.com where she interviewed...you guessed it...me! And don't miss
out on the Getting Healthy With Harley Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post and also over on Michelle's blog!

FiveSibesMom (FSM): How and when did you first become interested in art and design?

Michelle Littler (ML): Well
as soon as I could hold a pencil I have been drawing and creating
characters. I would fill a sketchbook every month with ideas, characters
and cartoons. My grandmother would come up with stories and then have
me illustrate them. So I don't remember a time where I wasn't drawing or
creating. The Graphic Design aspect of it didn't come until college.

FSM: What is your favorite part of illustrating?

ML:Well there are two parts. 1)
When I get an idea in my head and I can create it just as I imagined (I
love that) and the second is taking what another person has in mind or
just an idea and making their vision come alive. I love hearing "Oh, my
gosh that's exactly what I was imagining! How did you know?"

FSM: What was it about the concept behind the FiveSibes™ Tales and the first book of the series, What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy that you liked and agreed to sign on as the FiveSibes illustrator?

ML: I
have always wanted to illustrate a book and I loved the story and had
already fallen in love with the characters from a previous project I had
done with them. But with getting to know Dorothy (you!) and how you
worked and really gave me creative license-that's when I knew it would
be a great fit. All the pieces fit together well-sometimes you just know
when you talk to someone you click right away and I think you and me
clicked perfectly!

FSM: Having never met the FiveSibes or the author in person, how did you get
to “know” them so that the illustrations actually depict the real-life
nuances of each of the Huskies: Harley, Gibson, Wolf, Chloe, and Bandit?

ML: Well,
with any illustration, I always ask the person to give me as much detail
of them as possible. And after looking at dozens of pictures, I had in
mind their personalities and kind of developed what they would do in
certain situations and tried really hard to make sure their
individuality came out in ever drawing. After doing a few books know I
feel like I know them and am very protective about how they
are portrayed. I've even found myself saying "Chloe wouldn't do that!"

FSM: What is the most difficult part of illustrating and your most favorite part?

ML: The
most difficult part is matching what you are envisioning with what the
author is envisioning. Making sure you are being creative, but you aren't
straying away from her vision. Although working with you we rarely have
that problem. :) My favorite part is hearing the reaction to final
product-whether it's from the author or fans. It's always amazing to see
people reading and loving the illustrations you did. and of course
nothing beats seeing in it print!

FSM: Loaded Question (wink-wink), but I have to ask: How is it working with
the author and FiveSibesMom, Dorothy Wills-Raftery (a/k/a me!)?

ML: Honestly, it's one of the easiest relationships I have. I am always
super excited to see what you have come up with and how excited you are
about every project you do--it's easy to be excited and work for someone
who shows that level of joy and personal connection to the project. Plus,
I can be honest in telling you, "Hey, I don't think this is going to work
or I would like to try this" and your totally supportive and on
board. That is a rare thing for illustrators. So I am very lucky to be
working with you because at the end of the day, it doesn't feel like
work--it's just two people bouncing ideas around and being open to what's
next!

"Meoww...this is a really cute book!"

FSM: What is your favorite part of the What’s Wrong With Gibson book?

ML:I love when they are all in their jammies and each one shows their individual personality!

FSM: When you submit the very first sketch in a project, what goes through your mind before you hear back from me/the author?ML: I
was worried that what I had in mind for the illustration would be the
complete opposite of what the author had in mind. Even though it gets
easier I always hold my breathe until I get the "ok" because I'm always
hoping they love it as much as I do.

FSM: Are the FiveSibes Tales your first book projects? If so, what’s it like illustrating a book?

ML: Yes.
I have been playing around with illustrating my own book for awhile, but
these are my first published books! Illustrating for a book is
challenging because you not only have to make sure your one illustration
looks good, but has to remain consistent throughout. I first have to
read the story several times and then block it out and decide how to
divide it in pages (this is what takes the longest). Also, making sure the
colors are the same throughout. The test I usually apply is, if there
were no words just pictures, would a reader still know what is going on?
If it passes that test, I feel good about it.

FSM: When you completed each, What’s Wrong With Gibson? and Getting Healthy With Harley, what was that feeling like as you look back over both of the books and the series as a whole project?

ML:First there is a great sense of pride and accomplishment. I always say, "I can't believe I am reading a book with my illustrations!"
Unfortunately, an artist thinks they could always do better so there are
some that I am highly critical of and think "I should of done this" or "I shouldn't have done that" or little "mistakes" that only I notice.
But, that's just me being nuts and those thoughts get overshadowed by how
great they are.

FSM: Your cats, Page and Zephyr, both make their debut in Getting Healthy With Harley. What is it like to have your kitties be part of the story? And will they be in future stories?ML: That's
one of my favorite parts. They are absolutely the loves of my life
(sorry, Ben) so to have them included makes it very special to me. I hope
they will be in future stories! I try and sneak them in whenever I can.
Plus, on a personal note, these were cats that were abandoned and abused
so seeing them be a part of something that people love and people
recognize them, it's a great thing to see. They are two of the sweetest
cats in the world so to have them go from homeless too famous is
amazing!

Yes, Michelle's cats really read the books!

FSM: From their photos, I am absolutely certain they know how to read and
proof! Are they your muses, and do they ever subliminally (or maybe not
so subliminally!) offer suggestions to you?

ML:I
get ideas from them all the time. I think I mentioned to you that
Zephyr plays fetch and you are going to try and make that a part of an
upcoming book, so they influence my drawings all the time. And they
absolutely know when I am drawing them because they will peek over my
sketchbook or veto a drawing by sitting on it. I don't consider them
animals, but little humans with fur because Page will flip through the
pages of books and follow along with me and I'll ask Zephyr whether she
likes how I drew her and she will shake he head "no."

FSM: There are some upcoming books in the FiveSibes series that will be
featuring some “extras” and special appearances by furpals. How fun is
it to add these types of things to a story when you are creating the
illustrations?

ML: I love it! It's fun and
challenging. Because you get so used to drawing the same characters, it's
fun to now see how they will interact with different characters. One of
my favorite pages in the upcoming book is when they are in the waiting
room and surrounded by all different kinds of animals. These came from
friends' pets and a lot of them were in tribute to pets that they had
lost.

FSM: The illustrations bring the author’s written word to life on the page –
how fun is it to take someone’s words and create the images based upon
those words? What is the hardest part and the easiest part?

ML:It's
fun when you like what the person has written! LOL! I love your stories,
so it makes it easy. I think if I didn't like the story or the subject
it would be incredibly difficult and that's why I'm so selective on the
projects I take on. The hardest part is also the most challenging and
that is I never know what you are going to bring me. I have to figure it
out. So if you come up to me with a story about the FiveSibes meeting a
gorilla, I have to figure out how to make that work. I can't just leave a
part out of the book if I've never drawn it before. It definitely has
made be a better illustrator! And luckily, you haven't come up with
anything too crazy that I've said "Oh my gosh, I have no idea how I'm
going to draw this" or "I can't draw this."

FSM: Do you have a favorite Husky to draw out of the FiveSibes?

ML:Oh, I see you're trying to get me in trouble! Well, it won't work! I love
drawing them all the same. I will say I do have favorite poses or scenes
that each is in, but no favorites for this illustrator.

FSM: You also created the logo for the FiveSibes “The Sibe Vibe” Dog Works
Radio show. How do you feel when you see something you created, such as
the logo or one of the book covers, come across your social media or
print media?

ML:Honestly, it takes me a minute to
recognize that I did it! LOL! I'll be like, "Hey, that's a cute logo" and
then be like, "wait a minute, I made that!" There is nothing better (at
least for me) than seeing work I've done in the world. That is the same
when it's on a T-shirt, billboard, or in a book!

FSM: What was your most favorite part of this new FiveSibes book, Getting Healthy With Harley?

ML:Well,
of course, I love that my babies are in it, but I also love Harley's 80s
workout clothes--it cracks me up every time. I can just hear Olivia
Newton-John singing, "Let's Get Physical" in the background! I also love
the picture of them with the fireflies. That was inspired by me and my boyfriend, Ben,
in our backyard.

FSM: Comparing the first book to this one…what strikes you? Is there
anything you did differently? Was it easier the second time around?

ML:I
think the second one was easier. You and me knew what to expect and how
the other one works. We also had realistic time expectations that were hard
to judge on the first one. The one thing I did differently was not
drawing the book in order, which really helped. When I got an idea of a
certain page that's what I would focus on instead of being SO concerned
with sending them to you in order. I don't know if you loved that part (LOL!), but it was really helpful to me.

FSM: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us!ML:I
have a few.
1) I have never had a dog or been around dogs my entire life. 2) I
never took an art class until college, so I didn't know if I was any
good as my plans were to become a lawyer, and 3) My one cat, Zephyr, is
blind
in one eye, but you could never tell by the way she acts or in any of
her
pictures!

FSM: You are currently working with the author on her third FiveSibes Tale, Cooking With Chloe,
which has some pretty cool extras in it, as well as a bonus project.
How much creative liberty do you get from the author while illustrating
these?

ML: Well,
with our "super-secret bonus project" I have gotten to have full
liberty since we are working backwards where I will be illustrating it
and then you will be writing it (I can see people scratching their heads,
but it makes sense to us!) Also, with this I felt more comfortable to
offer some ideas and you were awesome to really listen and I think this
next book is our most collaborative and definitely is a preview of
things to come. And, again, if I didn't have such an awesome author that
was willing to let me have those choices I don't know if there would
have been more books, but know I don't want to stop them!

FSM: The author (moi) has many ideas for future books in the FiveSibes series…how
do you feel about that creative road ahead you are traveling down
together?

ML:I love it. I see the ideas getting
bigger and the potential growing and I just can't wait to see the
opportunities down the road and where this will take us.

FSM: What do you like best about working with the author (moi), and being the illustrator of the FiveSibes Tales?

ML:It
doesn't feel like work. No matter what else I am doing I am always
excited to illustrate them and I get as excited as the readers when you
come to me with the next book. I think that is a rare collaboration.
Plus they make me happy; if I'm in a bad mood or feeling blue, I draw
Bandit or Chloe and I can't help but feel better.

FSM: When the books are published and you receive your illustrator copies, what is the first thing you do?

ML: I
wait till Ben is out of the house because I attack it like a kid on
Christmas morning! My first look is usually just looking at the pictures
and making sure the colors came out all right, nothing got cut off, I
didn't accidentally put girl eyelashes on Gibson. But, after that I sit
down (with the girls) and look through it and read it. The day I get it,
I will probably read through it at least four times. And then like every
good daughter, I send my mom a copy because she is one of the FiveSibes
biggest fans. I always have to laugh because as soon as I give her the
latest book she'll ask, "And when's the next one coming out?!"

FSM: If you had a creative wish for a FiveSibes project, what would it be?ML: I
would love to see the book sold in stores and for a FiveSibes stuffed
animal. I also would love to see them as an animated series. We have a
great audience of fans now, but I just know if more people knew about it
the more people would fall in love with them (and then you and me can
retire to Vermont!) Doing the FiveSibes full-time I know is both of our
dreams...and I can see it happening!

Isn't
Michelle just awesome? I fell very fortunate to have met her and that
she is our official FiveSibes illustrator! I'm as excited about writing
the next FiveSibes Tale as I am seeing what she will produce!

Now what's a book release without a giveaway? For a
chance to win an autographed copy of Getting Healthy With Harley by both
Michelle and I, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below. It's a random
drawing and in one week on *June 17th* not one, but TWO lucky winners will receive
their own copies! And don't forget, we'd love to see photos of you and
your furbabies with the book to add to our Blog Book Tour album that we
share on Facebook and Twitter (and will be adding to our ArcticHouse
website in the near future). Just Email them to us at FiveSibes(at)gmail(dot)com and put "Harley Book Tour Pics" in the subject line!

Before we head off to the Rafflecopter...it would be (p)awesome if any of you would like to host us on our Blog Book Tour. All you have to do is a post about the book, a book review, or even an interview Q&A if you'd like, along with our book badge above. We'll happily share your blog post addy to direct folks to your amazing blogs, too! To be part of the Blog Book Tour, just drop me an Email at FiveSibes(at)gmail(dot)com and put "Harley Blog Book Tour" in the subject line!

"Wooo! You can win my book!

Now without further barks and hows...it's time for our...

UPDATE:TWO lucky readers have each won an autographed copy of

Getting Healthy With Harley!

CONGRATULATIONS TO...Jenna of HuskyCrazed ~and~ Cathy A.!

Be sure to send us your "doghouse" addy so Michelle and I can each autograph the book and get it out to you both! Please give us a little time as we live states apart, so it will take a little time to get the books personalized and on their way! Woo! Congrats to you both!

I just entered the book contest. My Husky Isis is a therapy dog. If we win, we will donate the book to one of the libraries we volunteer at. Isis is great with the kids in the reading programs!Cathy Armatowww.dogsluvusandweluvthem.blogspot.com

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WELCOME!

Welcome to the FiveSibes blog! At our home, we are the proud parents to five beautiful, lovable, energetic full-blooded Siberian Huskies whom we fondly refer to as "the kids!" Out of the five, four are siblings, three of them littermates! We also have an "Honorary Husky Cat" who adopted us, and most recently, she brought home another furpal, a feral kitten who has now adopted us, too! These furbabies are truly are a part of our family and we love them so! Through this blog, you will get to meet each one of them and share in a laugh or a cry at their fun-loving, crazy, wacky, and sometimes worrisome antics.

I first began the idea of creating a FiveSibes blog quite awhile ago when one of our Sibes, my wooly boy, Gibson, developed seizures shortly after his third birthday. When I began writing my journal of his medical journey, I had started posting entries on other social media as a way of connecting to others who also experienced the same with their dogs. Through this medium, I was able to connect with some pretty terrific dog-loving folks, both owners of Sibes, as well as other breeds,who I am happy to now call my friends.

My intention for this blog is to write about "a day in the life of" the FiveSibes, bringing thoughts, ideas, photos, tips, and discoveries to the forefront of discussion about the wonderful breed, as well as all things canine with others who share the same passion and love for their furbabies as we do.

We also hope to help spread the word that there are so many abandoned and homeless Sibes out there who could use a loving home. Too many times folks bring home a Husky simply for their beauty, but do not do the research to understand the breed and its needs and then turn the dog into a shelter when they can't/won't care for it anymore. Please visit the Sibe rescues listed on this site if you are considering bringing a Siberian Husky into your home. There are so many beautiful furbabies just waiting for a loving, forever home. Maybe yours could be one!

Let's make this forum a nice, comfy, polite place for everyone to visit--bring along your darling dog (or dogs), pull up a chair, have a cup of coffee, and let's talk canine!

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